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RECORD OF 
THE MILITARY SERVICE 

OF 

^xxei Bik\xitM(xnt ani> ^xmd Captain 

u. s. ARMY 



J 862 to 1876 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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RECORD OF 
THE MILITARY SERVICE 

OF 

^xtBt Ekuttnant anb (^xt\>U Captain 

U. S. ARMY 

J 862 to J 876 




WASHINGTON, D. C. 
Gibson Bros.^ Printers and Bookbinders 

1904 









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RECORD OF 
THE MILITARY SERVICE 

OF 

First Lieutenant and Brevet Captain 

Robert Goldthwaite Carter 

U. S. ARMY 



Robert Goldthwaite Carter was born on October 
29, 1845, at Bridgton, Maine, but removed in April, 
1847, to Portland, Maine, where his father, a rising 
lawyer in the State, had assumed editorial charge of 
the Portland Advertiser, then the leading Whig news- 
paper of Maine. 

He attended the public schools in Portland until 
May, 1857, when he again removed to Bradford (now 
Haverhill), Mass. His education being but imper- 
fectly complete, he was, in 1861, about to enter the 
PhilHps (Andover) Academy, to prepare for college 
or business, when the demon of Civil War broke 
loose and changed the entire course of his future life. 

Military Ancestry. 

Captain Carter descended from a race of soldiers. 

At least twenty (20) of his ancestors served during 

the Colonial and French and Indian wars and War 

of the Revolution, besides a number of uncles and 

cousins in the Civil War. 

3 



On the Paternal Side. 

A great-grandfather, Samuel Carter, was in the 
Indian garrison house on George Hill, Lancaster, 
Mass., where he lost his house and all his stock by 
an attack of Indians, 1704. 

A great-grandfather. Colonel Josiah Carter, who 
was in the Fort William Henry alarm, 1757, and served 
in the Revolutionary War, passed through every 
grade to that of colonel from 1775 to 1780, inclusive. 

He had two sons in the service: 

One, Captain Carter's great-grandfather, Abijah 
Carter, served in the Revolutionary War as private 
and sergeant from 1776 to 1780, inclusive; also 12th 
N. H. Militia (troop) 1788. 

A great-uncle, Josiah Carter, Jr., was a corporal 
in the Lexington alarm, a sergeant and ensign at the 
siege of Boston, with subsequent service to 1780. 

A great-grandfather. Major Eleazar Hamlin, grand- 
father of Hannibal Hamlin, who was Governor of 
Maine, United States Senator, Minister to Spain, 
collector of Boston, etc., was a Second Lieutenant 
in the Lexington alarm; served as a captain and 
major from 1775 to 1781, inclusive, and was retired 
on half pay, which, later, was changed to a grant of 
land. 

Three (3) of his sons also served during the Revo- 
lutionary War. 

One, America Hamlin, Captain Carter's great- 
grandfather, served as private and sergeant from 
1778 to 1781, inclusive. 

Another. Europe Hamlin, a great-uncle, served as 
private and sergeant from 1775 to 1780, inclusive; 
also as sergeant in "Shay's RebeUion, " 1787. 

Another, Lieutenant Africa Hamlin, a great-uncle, 
who was with his father in the Lexington alarm, 
[775, served as corporal, sergeant, ordnance sergeant, 

4 



sergeant-major, ensign and lieutenant, until January 
24, 1784, having acted as adjutant, quartermaster 
and paymaster. He was a charter member of the 
Society of the Cincinnati . 

On the Maternal Side. 



f 



A great-grandfather, Captain William Davis, was 
a sergeant, ensign, lieutenant and captain of the 
Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Boston 
from 1645 to 1675; a Heutenant and captain of the 
Suffolk County (Massachusetts) Troop of Horse; 
commanded a troop of horse in " Unigrets War"; 
was second in command, under his brother-in-law, 
Major Thomas Savage, who led the Massachusetts 
troops against King PhiHp, resulting in the latter's 
defeat and death; was in the Kennebec expedition 
(1676) with Captain Thomas Lake, who was killed; 
but he, who was wounded, escaped, and died the 
same year from the effects of the wound. He was 
one of the founders of the Old South Church and select- 
man of Boston 1647, 1654, 1661; also 1670-1675. 
His son Thomas married Hannah, a daughter of Gov- 
ernor John Leverett of Massachusetts. 

A great-grandfather,. Captain John Goldthwaite, 
was a sergeant, ensign, and lieutenant from 171 1 to 
1732 of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Com- 
pany of Boston; was a captain in Col. Jacob Wendell's 
regiment of Boston. 1743. He had three (3) sons 
in the service : 

One, a greatgrandfather. Col. Thomas Goldthwaite, 
was a captain in the Crown Point expedition of 1760; 
paymaster general of 4,000 Massachusetts troops at 
Crown Point, under Sir Jeffrey Amherst, 1760-'! ; pro- 
vincial secretary of war under Sir Francis Bernard, 
1761-1763; commandant of Fort Pownal at the mouth 
of the Penobscot river, 1763-1775; colonel 2d regi- 

S 



ment Lincoln County Massachusetts Militia. He 
was a friend of both Sir Francis Bernard and Thomas 
Hutchinson, the last Colonial Governor of Massachu- 
setts, and associated with them in important business 
interests. 

Another, Col. Benjamin Goldthwaite, a great-grand- 
uncle, joined the Ancient and Honorable Artillery- 
Company of Boston, 1740; in expedition to Annapolis 
Royal, 1744, under Major Paul Mascarene; captain, 
2d Massachusetts regiment in the first siege of Louis- 
burg; commanded the English troops at battle of 
Minas, Nova Scotia, 1747; major in Winslow's "Aca- 
dian expedition," 1755; major in second siege of 
Louisburg; colonel in Crown Point expedition for 
the relief of Fort William Henry, 17 56- '7. 

This magnificent old soldier spent eighteen years — 
the best years of his life — in the Colonial service, and 
was in five campaigns, which, for courage displayed, 
and for importance of results, few incidents in the 
colonial history of this country can compare. Es- 
pecially in the siege and capture of Louisburg, in 1745. 

He had two sons in the service: One, Captain 
Jacob Goldthwaite a great-uncle, served as a private 
in 1756; was one of the few survivors of the Fort 
William Henry massacre in 1757; served in the cam- 
paigns of i758-'9 and 1760, and was a sergeant, en- 
sign, lieutenant and captain-lieutenant from 1775 to 
1780, inclusive. 

His son, Timothy Goldthwaite, was a private at 
14, in 1775; served three years as a mattross in his 
father's regiment until 1780, and was also in the War 
of 1812. 

Another, Benjamin Goldthwaite, Jr., a great-uncle, 
was a minute man in. the Lexington alarm, and also 
had subsequent service. 

The brother of Col. Benjamin G., Captain Joseph 
Goldthwaite, a great grand-uncle, was a private and 



first sergeant in the Ancient and Honorable Artillery 
Company of Boston from 1730 to 1748; ensign, Col. 
Jacob Wendell's regiment of Boston, 1743, with his 
father, Captain John Goldthwaite ; first lieutenant 
and adjutant (brevet captain) of Colonel (Sir William) 
Pepperell's First Massachusetts Regiment at the siege 
of Louisburg, 1745; first lieutenant, Shirley's 50th 
Foot, 1756; captured at the siege of Oswego, 1756; 
prisoner of war at Fort St. Philip, Island of Minorca, 
1758. Granted 2,000 acres of land, Warren county, 
N. Y., March 25, 1775. 

His son. Colonel Joseph Goldthwaite, a great-uncle, 
was major in Colonel John Phillips' regiment, of Bos- 
ton, 1759, with probably prior service; major in 
Bagley's regiment, 1 760-1 761, at Louisburg; in com- 
mand there that winter; lieutenant colonel in Salion- 
stall's regiment, i762-'3; present at Indian Peace 
Conference at Fort Niagara, N. Y., with Sir William 
Johnson, 1764; major and commissary in Boston, 
1765; major and "barrack master" with the British 
troops at siege of Boston, 17 75-1 776. 

Francis Archibald, a great-grandfather, was one of 
the boys who brought on the "Boston Massacre," 
March 5, 1770, one of the disturbing causes of the 
Revolutionary War; was a witness before the court 
which tried Captain Preston of the British army for 
murder; private and sergeant in garrison of Fort 
Pownal, 1 77 1, and until its destruction, July 22, 
1775; private secretary to Col. Thomas Gold- 
thwaite and clerk of the fort. Married Mary, daughter 
of Colonel Goldthwaite. 

His brother, Edward Archibald, a grand-uncle, 
was second lieutenant, ensign, first lieutenant and 
adjutant of Glover's famous Marblehead regiment 
("Marine Regiment") from 1775 to 1777; captain- 
lieutenant, in Lamb's Second Continental Artillery 
from 1777 to 1780, inclusive. 

7 



Tn 1832 the father of Captain Carter was appointed 
a cadet at West Pomt from the Oxford County Dis- 
trict of Maine. Having become an orphan at an 
early age, upon the advice of his friends, he resigned 
his cadetship in 1834 to study law. Many of his 
classmates distinguished themselves in the Mexican 
and Civil Wars. 

Military Record. 

Although but 15 years of age when Fort Sumter 
was fired upon, all thought of school or any further 
study was thrown aside, and on April 20, 1861, at the 
first call for 75,000 troops, Captain Carter hurried 
to Boston, hoping that his size and strength would 
more than compensate for his extreme youth; but 
upon attempting to enlist, he was doomed to disap- 
pointment, for he was summarily rejected. 

Two other brothers then entered the service, which 
alone acted as a check to curb the restless spirit within 
him. 

In 1862, at the age of 16, he made another strenuous 
effort to enlist, but upon being again rejected on ac- 
count of an honest confession of his true age, and 
after a sober reflection of three weeks, he returned to 
the same recruiting officer, and after stating that he 
had gained two years in that period, and was then 
iS, or the required legal age, he was at once and this 
time eagerly accepted, and on August 5, 1862, he 
was mustered into the service as a private, Company 
H, 2 2d Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, a regimenli 
that had been raised by the late Henry Wilson, Sena- 
tor and Vice-President of the United States. In 
"Fox's Regimental Losses," compiled from Official 
Records, it stands number 27 in a list of 45 Union 
infantry regiments that lost over 200 killed on the 
battlefield, with a record of 216; and in a list of all 

8 



Union infantry regiments that lost over lo per cent, 
in killed it stood number 13, with a percentage of 

I5-5- 

It was one of the best fighting regiments in the 
Army of the Potomac, made up of college and school 
boys, young lawyers, clerks and mechanics from Bos- 
ton and adjacent towns, and was commanded by a 
regular officer. Col. Jesse A. Gove (captain, loth 
U. S. Infantry), who was killed at the battle of Gaines' 
Mills, Va., June 27, 1862. 

Captain Carter was the youngest of four brothers in 
the Army of the Potomac, who, between them, par- 
ticipated in every campaign and principal battle of 
that army from the first battle of Bull Run to Appo- 
mattox Court-House. 

One brother. Captain and Brevet Major Eugene 
Carter (a graduate of the United States Military 
Academy, June 24, 186 1), was assigned to Company 
G, 8th U. S. Infantry, but that regiment having sur- 
rendered to General Twiggs in Texas, and being 
then paroled prisoners of war, he was temporarily 
attached to Company B, 3d U. S. Infantry. Without 
a graduation leave he was hurried to Washington 
for the purpose of organizing and drilling raw troops 
which were pouring into the Capital by thousands. 

He participated in the first battle of Bull Run, 
July 21, 1 86 1, and was in Hunter's Division, Andrew 
Porter's Brigade, Sykes' Battalion (Regulars). Cap- 
tain J. Ford Kent, commanding Company B of the 3d 
Infantry, having been wounded shortly after coming 
on the field, Eugene Carter commanded the company 
during the entire battle. His record of military service 
is given in General Cullum's Register of Graduates of 
the United States Military Academy. 

He participated in the Peninsula campaign, begin- 
ning with the siege of Yorktown April 5 to May 3, 
1862, and ending with the battle of Malvern Hill, Va., 

9 



July I, 1862, during which he commanded Company 
G, 8th U. S. Infantry, and continued in the field until 
after the campaign and battle of Gettysburg, Pa., 
July 1-3, 1863. 

He was bre vetted captain, U. S. Army, July 4, 
1862, "for gallant and meritorious service during the 
Peninsula campaign." 

He was bre vetted major, U. S. Army, December 13, 
1862, "for gallant and meritorious service at the battle 
of Fredericksburg, Va." 

He was honorably mustered out in 1871, to engage 
in business. He was at that time a captain, nth U. S. 
Infantry, and brevet major, U. S. Army. 

Another brother, John H. Carter, a private and 
sergeant of Company E, ist Massachusetts Heavy 
Artillery (organized as 14th Massachusetts Volunteer 
Infantry), from August 16, 1861, to August 25, 1865, 
participated in every campaign and battle with the 
Second Army Corps from May 18, 1864, at Spottsyl- 
vania Court-House to Appomattox Court-House, in- 
cluding North Anna, Va., May 23-27, 1864; Totopoto- 
moy, Va., May 30, 31, 1864; Cold Harbor, Va., June 
1-12, 1864; Petersburg, Va., June 15, 19, 20-30, 1864; 
Weldon Railroad, June 22, 23, 1864; Deep Bottom, 
Va., July 27, 28, 1864; Mine Explosion, Petersburg, 
Va., July 30, 1864; Strawberry Plains, Va., August 14- 
18, 1864; Peeble's Farm, Va., September 30, 1864; 
Boydton Plank Road (Hatcher's Run), Va., October 
27, 1864, where he was wounded, captured and re- 
captured the same day; White Oak Road, Va., March 
31, 1865; Sutherland Station, Va., April 2, 1865; 
Sailor's Creek and Deatonsville, Va. April 6, 1865; 
Farmville, Va., April 7, 1865; Lee's surrender (Ap- 
pomattox Court-House, Va., April 9, 1865). 

Still another brother, Walter Carter, who was a 
corporal, sergeant-major and first lieutenant (but not 
mustered), entered the 2 2d Massachusetts Volun- 



tcers August 5, 1862, with the subject of this sketch; 
he participated in every campaign and battle with 
that regiment, which was in the First Brigade, First 
Division (Gen. Charles Griffin), Fifth i\rmy Corps, 
from the second battle of Bull Run up to and in- 
cluding the siege of Petersburg, Va. 

Bivouacking without shelter or blankets, and with- 
out proper rations, on Shuter's Hill, near Alexandria, 
Va., at Fairfax Seminary and on Arlington Heights, 
Va., from August 19, 1862, within sound of the guns 
at Bull Run, awaiting the arrival of the Army of the 
Potomac from Harrison's Landing, Va. ; they joined 
the regiment as it came from Bull Run at Hall's Hill, 
Va., September 4, 1862. 

Served in the fortifications on Arlington Heights 
until September 12th, following which he was in the 
first Maryland campaign, which culminated in the 
battle of Antietam; engaged in the battle of 
Antietam September 16, 17, 1862. In the advance 
of the army and skirmishing with the enemy at 
the Burnside Bridge, Antietam Creek, on the night of 
September 18, 1862; in the advance through Sharps- 
burg towards Shepardstown, Va., and Blackford's 
Ford, September 19; in the reconnoissance in force 
across Blackford's Ford, and engaged in the disastrous 
rearguard action with the enemy (Jackson's Corps) 
at Boteler's Mill, Va., September 20, 1862; picket 
duty, without blankets, or proper clothing, along the 
line of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, sleeping at 
night without shelter in the dry (?) bed of the canal, 
from Shepardstown Bridge to Blackford's Ford, from 
September 20 to October 31, 1862, during an unpre- 
cedented season of cold fogs, rains, and heavy frosts, 
which caused much sickness and many deaths. 

On the march from Sharpsburg to Fredericksburg, 
Va., from October 31 to November 21, 1862, fifteen 
days of which it rained or snowed, and the Army of 



the Potomac was perilously near to insubordination and 
mutiny, owing to the sudden relief of Generals Geo. 
B. McClellan and Fitz-John Porter from their com- 
mands. 

Covering Snicker's Gap in line of battle, but not en- 
gaged, November 2-6, 1862; reconnoissance in force 
to the vicinity of Hartwood Church, Va., and return 
to camp near "Stoneman's Switch," December 2, 1862; 
capture of one scout ; engaged in battle of Fredericks- 
burg, Va., December 13, 14, 1862. 

On a secret reconnoissance and organized expedition, 
composed of infantry, cavalry and artillery, to Rich- 
ard's and Ellis's Fords, Rappahannock river, Decem- 
ber 30, 1862, to January i, 1863. 

Clearing the timber barricades, skirmish at Rich- 
ard's Ford, resulting in the accidental wounding of 
Mrs. Richards and the capture of a vedette of the ist 
South Carolina Cavalry. 

Forded the Rappahannock, breaking the ice, the 
ford being about knee deep ; made a very rapid march 
of eight miles to Ellis's Ford, where the river was 
forded a second time by breaking the ice; this time, 
however, the water being up to the armpits ; picketed 
Ellis's Ford on the night of December 31, without 
fires or coffee, and without changing their wet clothes, 
which froze stiff on the men's backs — mercury at zero; 
return march January i, 1863. 

This was an organized raid by Averill's cavalry to 
cut and damage, as much as possible, the lines of 
communication of the enemy, to be supported by a 
selected light infantry division. It was initiated by 
General Burnside, but was suddenly negatived by 
President Lincoln's order as soon as he learned of it 
through some officers who had been unfriendly to 
General Burnside after the massacre at Fredericks- 
burg. 

On "Burnside's mud march," January 20-24, 1863, 
to the fords of the Rappahannock and return. 



Severe outpost picket duty in rain, sleet and snow, 
seven miles from camp, along a line between Hart- 
wood Church and Stafford Court-House, Va. ; drills, 
fatigue, camp guard and train guard duty ; inspections 
and reviews from January 24 to April 27, 1863. 

On the Chancellorsville campaign, April 27 to May 

1, 1863. 

Engaged in the battle of Chancellorsville, Va., 
May 1-6, 1863. 

With the Fifth Corps, acting as a corps of obser- 
vation, guarding the fords of the Rappahannock river 
from May 29 to June 13, 1863, picketing this line, 
constructing field earthworks, scouting, etc. 

On train guard, escorting wagon train May 31 to 
June 2 from Grove Church, Va., to Stoneman's Switch 
and return, over a road which had been left open to 
frequent incursions by Mosby's partisans, who had 
killed or captured many men along this route. 

Marched to support the Union cavalry in the cavalry 
combat at Beverly Ford, Va., June 9, 1863, and re- 
turn; within supporting distance and sound of the 
guns, but not engaged. 

From June 13 to July 5, 1863, was on the Gettys- 
burg campaign; march to Gum Springs and Aldie, 
Va., supporting the cavalry corps (detached from the 
Army of the Potomac for this purpose), and engaged 
in the cavalry battle of Aldie and Upperville, Va., 
June 21, 22, 1863. 

On train guard, escorting the Fifth Corps wagon 
train from Aldie to Fairfax Station, Va., via Chan- 
tilly and Germantown; abandonment and destruction 
of the station and rearguard skirmish with the enemy's 
cavalry. 

Return via Frying Pan and Dranesville to and across 
the Potomac river at Edward's Ferry through a coun- 
try then infested by Mosby's scouts; joined the main 
army and brigade again at Frederick City, Md., via 
Bamesville, Buckeystown and Monocacy, Md. 

13 



March through Frederick, Liberty, Johnsville, Friz- 
zleburg. Union Bridge, Union Mills, Hanover, Mc- 
Sherrytown and Boneauville to Gettysburg, Pa., June 
29 to July 2, 1863. 

Engaged in the battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 2-3, 
1863. 

On a reconnoissance in force and skirmish with the 
rearguard of the retreating Confederate army during 
a heavy thunder storm July 4, 1863. 

Following up the enemy from July 5 ; on the picket 
line and skirmish with the enemy at St. James Col- 
lege, near Williamsport, Md., July 14, and at night, 
when the Confederate army recrossed the Potomac; 
captured prisoners and reported the retreat of the 
enemy to division headquarters. 

Pursuit of the Confederate Army from July 14 to 
July 23, 1863. 

Supporting the Third Corps July 23, 24, 1863, in its 
engagement at Wapping Heights, near Manassas Gap, 
Va. 

March to Beverly Ford, Rappahannock river, from 
July 24 to September 8, 1863; guard, picket duty, re- 
connoissances until October 9; advance to the fords 
and movement upon Centreville, Va. ; engaged at 
Bristow Station, Va., October 14, 1863; action of 
Rappahannock Station, Va., November 7, 1863; 
Mine Run, Va., November 26 to December i, 1863. 

Engaged in the campaign of 1864; battle of the 
Wilderness, Va., May 5-7, 1864. 

Engaged in the battles of Laurel Hill, Va., May 8, 
1864, and Alsop's Farm, Va., May 10, 1864; here, 
while sergeant-major of the 2 2d Massachusetts, and 
cut off from the right of the regiment with the major 
and two companies by the Brock road, running into 
Spottsylvania Court-House, which here cut the line, 
the major, seeing the perilous situation of himself and 
men, subjected to a terrific fire of spherical case, 

14 



canister and musketry, sent him to the right of the 
road to ask the colonel for relief. He ran the gauntlet 
through a perfect hailstorm of bullets, and was re- 
peatedly struck through the clothing, and one ball 
passing across his eye so burnt it that he was unable 
to use it for several days. 

Engaged in the battles of Spottsylvania Court- 
House, Va., May 8-20, 1864. 

The 2 2d Massachusetts, on the night of May 8, 
at Laurel Hill, in a desperate hand-to-hand encounter, 
captured the battle-flag and many prisoners of the 
6th Alabama Infantry, Dole's Division, Battle's Bri- 
gade. 

In pursuit of the enemy; engaged in battle of North 
Anna river, Va., May 23, 1864, skirmishing until May 
27, 1864. 

Advance to the Pamunkey river; support of the 
cavalry at Hawe's Shop, Va., May 29, 1864; engaged 
at Totopotomoy, Va., May 30, 31, 1864; engaged at 
Bethesda Church, Va., May 30 to June i, 1864; en- 
gaged at Cold Harbor, Va., June 1-12, 1864. 

March to and across the James river; engaged at 
Petersburg, Va., June 18, 1864, cutting and capture 
of the Norfolk and Petersburg R.R. — constantly 
under fire — and performing the most arduous duties; 
working upon the entrenchments, picket duty, night 
alarms, etc., from June 18 to July 30, 1864; Mine Ex- 
plosion, Va., July 30, 1864, in support of the assaulting 
columns. 

The regiment had now become so much depleted 
by constant battle service, numbering but 125 men, 
that General Griffin, the Division Commander, se- 
lected it to go to City Point, Va., and guard the 
immense ordnance stores, quartermaster's work and 
repair shops, hospitals, prisoners, etc., which had 
accumulated there ; and here it remained from August 
9, to October i, 1864, to await muster out, performing, 

15 



in the meantime, the most important service by guard- 
ing milHons of dollars' worth of the most valuable 
property, for which it was highly commended. 

In the report of Col. WilHam S. Tilton, commanding 
the 2 2d Massachusetts Volunteers during most of its 
service, and for a part of the campaign from the Rapi- 
dan river to Petersburg, he says: "May lo, 1864, 

* * * and Sergeant-Major Walter Carter deserve 
notice for their bravery. " 

Major Mason W. Burt, commanding the regiment 
for a part of this campaign, says : 

"Near City Point, Va., 

August 13, 1864. 
"The following enlisted men I mention (they having 
come particularly under my notice at the dates men- 
tioned) for coolness under fire and personal bravery; 

* * * and Sergeant-Major Walter Carter, in all 
battles of the campaign. " 

Having declined to be mustered on his commission 
as first lieutenant, 2 2d Massachusetts Volunteers, 
February 27, 1864, he could not receive brevets or 
any further recognition, which otherwise he would 
doubtless have had conferred upon him for such un- 
usual praise from his commanding officer, and for 
such an extraordinary record. 

I. — Specially Commended for Good Conduct. 

Captain Carter was specially commended for good 
conduct to the colonel commanding the regiment 
at the battle of Fredericksburg, Va., by his company 
commander. Captain Joseph H. Baxter, Company H, 
2 2d Massachusetts Volunteers. Going into action at 
3 P. M., December 13th, after making a m.ost des- 
perate charge across the plain in rear of the city, 

16 



which was swept by a terrific fire of shot, shell and 
musketry, the position of his regiment was within 
300 yards of the now famous "sunken road" at the 
foot of Marye's Heights, in front of the "stone wall." 
Here, after remaining without sleep, among the un- 
buried dead, and the wounded of the 12 th Rhode 
Island Volunteers, during the night of the 13th, 
which was bitter cold, on Sunday, December 14, 1862, 
he and his brother lay for sixteen hours under a con- 
tinuous and murderous fire of sharpshooters posted 
on Marye's Heights and in the houses overiooking 
their position, the plane of fire just clearing their 
heads, without being able to stir hand or foot, in cold, 
freezing mud, and behind two terribly shell-mangled 
bodies for breastworks. The enemy's bullets fre- 
quently hit the dead flesh in front of their noses during 
all this period and until reHeved from their perilous 
position at eight o'clock that night. 

At the battle of Chancellorsville he was under fire 
from April 30 to May 6, 1863, and practically without 
sleep or food during that period. 

In the withdrawal of the Army of the Potomac 
across the Rappahannock at United States Ford, 
the First Brigade (Barnes') of the Fifth Corps (Meade)! 
to which the 2 2d Massachusetts was attached, acting 
as rearguard by order of General Hooker, covered 
the movement, which was regarded as one of extreme 
peril. 

This brigade, during a terrific rainstorm, dismantled, 
stripped and loaded the two pontoon bridges, after 
the army had crossed, and then, bending on cables 
to the pontoon wagons, hauled them by hand up a 
steep road over the bluff under cover of 30 guns in 
position. Guarding this train inside the picket-line 
to a place of safety, it reached its camp 24 hours after 
the entire army in an exhausted condition. 

On the Gettysburg campaign, extending from May 

17 



29 to July 22, 1863, upon reaching Frederick City, Md., 
his shoes had worn out on the long march and he was 
bare-footed. A pair was issued to him (the only 
shoes in the company) on the night of June 28th which 
proved to be nearly a size too small. When he arrived 
at Boneauville, Pa., in the immediate vicinity of 
Gettysburg, on the night of July i, having made a day 
and night march of nearly 30 miles, his feet had be- 
come completely covered with water-blisters, which 
had broken; the sand and gravel had worked into 
and made them so sore that he was again compelled 
to go barefoot the balance of the night, and to fall out 
of the rapidly moving column. 

At dayhght, upon hearing the sudden booming of 
guns, and knowing that a great battle was imminent 
on that day, he broke away from a group of stragglers 
which he had unwillingly joined, and hastening on the 
trail of the column, still barefooted, across wheat 
stubble fields, rocks and brambles, he never halted 
until he had overtaken and joined his regiment, then 
on the easterly slopes of Powers' Hill, where it was 
preparing to go into battle to support the Third Corps, 
then hard pressed. With his feet lacerated and bleed- 
ing at every pore, in this condition he went into the 
terrible struggle of that afternoon, July 2, in front of 
the Round Tops and across the Wheat Field near the 
Devil's Den. 

During a temporary lull in the firing he crept out 
in front of the lines, secured some stockings from the 
rolls of the dead, and thrusting his feet into the old 
shoes which he had cut away in front, using them as 
sandals for the protection of his almost useless feet 
over that rocky country, he continued on in the battle 
of July 3-4, and to the end of the campaign. He was 
then but 1 7 years of age. 

On July 22, 1863, when about to go into line of 
battle near Manassas Gap, Va., he was selected by 



the colonel commanding his regiment to proceed to 
Massachusetts with a detail of officers and non-com- 
missioned officers, he being the only private soldier 
detailed, on temporary detached service, for the pur- 
pose of conducting recruits and drafted men to the regi- 
ment. 

Four days later he gave to Gov. John A. Andrew, 
in his executive office in the State House, Boston, 
Mass., at his request, the first account he had heard 
of the battle of Gettysburg from a participant. 

While on this detached service he was detailed, 
even at his youthful age, as a detective, under orders 
of the provost marshal, in ferreting out plots for es- 
cape by the numerous "bounty jumpers" who were 
being brought into the rendezvous by thousands, 
apprehending deserters, searching all detachments, 
patrolling the island at all hours of the day and night, 
sometimes during terrible storms, along a rocky beach, 
and a multitude of other duties such as are incident 
to an immense draft depot. 

So much confidence did the provost marshal have 
in his good judgment, discretion and honesty, that 
he was twice selected to perform the most important du- 
ties under his authority, such as depositing and express- 
ing all money turned over by the drafted men and sub- 
stitutes for this purpose for their friends, as they were 
not permitted to take it to the front with them — 
sometimes amounting to $25,000 daily; it had to be 
carried in loose packages to the express offices and 
banks, and this responsibility was assumed as any 
other ordinary duty, without bond or any security 
expected or demanded. 

On another occasion he was detailed as acting 
postmaster for receiving and distributing all mail 
matter for 5,000 men. 



19 



n. — Capture of the Famous " Bounty Jumper/' 
Matthew Reilly, alias Roach. 

During this period he assisted in the pursuit and 
capture of five deserters (one only escaping) who had 
broken away from their guard, seized the best sailboat 
at the dock, and fled across the bay to Quincy, Mass., 
where, after a close pursuit and exciting, stern chase, 
they were overtaken and secured. One of these men 
whom he personally captured was the notorious 
"bounty jumper" Matthew Reilly, alias Roach, who 
was shown before the court which tried him to have 
jumped nine bounties in New York harbor aggregating 
$15,000. Another was Charles Carpenter. Both of 
these desperate, hardened criminals, upon the testi- 
mony of the detachment which captured them, were 
executed — shot — on the beach at Fort Warren, Bos- 
ton Harbor, April 22, 1864, by order of Gen. John 
A. Dix. The balance of these men were sentenced to 
hard labor at Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortugas. 

Detached on the transport Forrest City August 22, 
1863, as guard for 800 drafted men, substitutes and 
recruits for various points — Fort Monroe, Norfolk, 
Alexandria and the Army of the Potomac; two hun- 
dred (200) were delivered to the 2 2d Massachusetts. 

During the run down the coast to Fort Monroe 
a fearful storm was encountered in which the trans- 
port came near foundering. The temporary bunks, 
during a sudden lurch, came down in the night; she 
shipped several huge waves. The desperate men 
crowded against the doors and threatened to take the 
ship, and they were only kept back for three days and 
nights by the veteran guard with loaded rifles, fixed 
bayonets and threats to shoot the first man who 
attempted to pass through the bulkhead door. On 
arriving at Alexandria many of these men tried to 
desert by the novel method of dropping from the stern 



of the ship into the Potomac river with boxes fastened 
over their heads full of holes, which they had cut for 
breathing spaces. These men were promptly shot 
and sunk by the guard from the hurricane deck. 

Mustered out of the Volunteer Service, 
October 4, 1864. 

Captain Carter was mustered out of the volunteer 
service October 4, 1864. 

On account of his extreme youth he declined a 
commission which had been offered to him by Gov. 
John A. Andrew, the War Governor of Massachusetts, 
who was a warm personal and political friend of his 
(Captain Carter's) father, then a State Senator and 
chairman of the Military Committee of the Massa- 
chusetts Senate; hence, as he was never on the sick 
report or excused from any duty whatever, could not 
get wounded, and had no hospital record, his entire 
campaign and battle service was in the ranks as a pri- 
vate soldier; and he could receive no brevets, reward 
of any kind, or any other substantial recognition for 
such hard service. 

Brevet Brigadier-General William S. Tilton, Colonel 
2 2d Massachusetts Volunteers, says of him, however: 

"I take great pleasure in recommending him as a 
patriotic man, and an intelligent and faithful soldier. 
He joined my regiment (2 2d Massachusetts Infantry) 
in 1862 as a volunteer private soldier — a time when 
the example of good men was necessary to sustain 
enlistments, and this, too, at a sacrifice of social com- 
fort and to the great detriment of his education. 

"In my opinion he is fit to command men, for he 
has learned the virtue of obedience, which is disci- 
pline. His character is not to he questioned; his hear- 
ing in the field was always manly — braved 



Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Sherwin, of Boston, says : 

"He always acquitted himself to my entire satisfac- 
tion. In one engagement, Fredericksburg, his conduct 
was especially remarked upon by his company commander. 
On all occasions, in camp, on the march, he won the 
esteem of his officers by his intelligence, attention to duty 
and gentlemanly bearing. Well educated, energetic and 
full of zeal and patriotism , he will, I am sure, fill credit- 
ably any position to which he maybe assigned. Soon 
after the battle of Gettysburg I selected Carter as one 
of those in whom the greatest confidence could be re- 
posed, to proceed to Massachusetts and take charge 
of recruits and drafted men for the regiment." 

Appointed a Cadet at West Point, July I, 1865. 

While a cadet he was appointed a corporal, ser- 
geant, and first lieutenant in the cadet battalion, 
and graduated June 15, 1870. 

III. — Saved the Life of a Young Lady in the Hudson 
River, August 4, 1869. 

Had there been a law giving medals for saving life 
prior to the act of Congress, approved June 20, 1874, 
he would have been awarded the Life Saving Medal 
for this act. This incident was widely published at 
the time in all of the leading newspapers of the coun- 
try, but especially in the Christian Union, of New 
York City, in an article entitled — 

"A Christian Heroine. 

" We have not seen her, and probably never shall, but 
we like to feel that there are such people around in 
the world. For the glory of womanhood and for the 



inspiration of nobler sentiments, we must tell this 
nameless tale — nameless, since we judge she would be 
the last one to desire the story told, or her name 
identified with it. 

"During the last season a young lady who was 
visiting her brother at West Point received one day 
an invitation to take a row across the river. They 
crossed the river without trouble, but when it came 
time to return the wind had risen, and was rolling 
up waves quite too dangerous for the Httle shell of a 
boat in which they had embarked. The cadet warned 
his fair friend of the peril in attempting a repassage 
with that frail conveyance, and proposed that they 
take the regular ferry. But as this would involve 
such delay as to detain him from his place at parade 
and evening roll-call— a serious offense against the 
severe discipline of the Academy — she bravely in- 
sisted upon returning as they came, and was wilHng 
to take all the risk rather than be the cause of a dere- 
liction of his military duties. The waves were in- 
deed running high for so frail a craft, and they both 
soon realized that the condition was extremely criti- 
cal. 

"At last, when one wave higher than all the rest was 
seen approaching, she expressed her feehng that that 
would probably swamp the boat, and he frankly said 
that it undoubtedly would. She then told him that 
he must not trouble himself about her safety, but secure 
his own life; that she felt herself prepared for any 
event ; that she had faith to beheve that they would be 
saved, but if she sank she had a hope beyond this life 
in which she felt secure, and the message he should 
bear to her friends was that she died happy and with- 
out pain. 

"He gave her the assurance of his determination 
to do his best to save them both, but gave her to 
understand that while he could swim by himself, he 

23 



should be unable to sustain her unless she kept cool 
enough to retain her position with steadiness, do 
exactly what he might ask of her, and leave him un- 
embarrassed in his efforts to swim. 

"She promised all this, and nobly kept her word 
through the fearful ordeal. This was a rapid ex- 
change of thought, indeed, but brave people think 
with wondrous quickness when danger is imminent, 
and her coolness was further signalized by her care 
to draw on a glove, in the interval, to protect some 
keepsake rings on her finger. 

"All the while the fatal wave was rolling up! And 
then it came, and the boat sank, swamped beneath 
them, the tide also carrying it away down the stream. 
Like a true hero, the cadet now struggled with all his 
strength and skill to support his companion, she, 
meanwhile, cheering him with reiterated assurances of 
her hope that they would be rescued, and of the religious 
trust in which she could joyfully repose if he must 
abandon her to save himself. 

"Several times he managed to skilfully recover the 
boat and use it for a slight temporary relief to his 
waning strength, but manifestly the power of endurance 
was wearing out, although the young woman was 
cool enough to follow exactly the directions which he 
gave. 

"When almost ready to give up the futile effort, a 
boat appeared, sent to the rescue by a sloop which 
had just turned the point. As they caught the girl, 
she begged them to leave her and give all their atten- 
tion to the yotmg man who was sinking; and as he 
sank she bade him catch hold of her. He succeeded 
and was drawn in through his grasp on her ankle, when 
under the water, only to be laid down in a swoon from 
nervous and muscular exhaustion. 

"When the story became known at the cadet camp, 

the enthusiasm was unbounded over a heroism sur- 

24 



passing that of battle-fields, and there was proved to be 
an inspiration for youth greater than that from brave 
deeds in war, in the fortitude and simple faith of such 
a Christian heroine." 

There were two alternatives: One was to abandon 
her to her fate, a sure death by drowning, and swim 
ashore, or risk his life in an endeavor to save hers. 
He chose the latter, with the result as stated. 

There is no question but that he could have easily 
saved his own life by swimming to the nearest point 
of land on the east shore, about i ,000 yards, as he was 
a strong swimmer and an athlete, having trained and 
rowed in three races in as man}'- years; but to have 
abandoned her to a sure death would have been rank 
cowardice, which an old soldier, trained as he had 
been, and thoroughly imbued with the principles in- 
culcated at West Point, he could never have been guilty 
of for a moment. 

Second Lieutenant, 4th U. S. Cavalry, June J 5, 1870* 

On graduation leave until September 30, 1870. 
Reported in person at headquarters of the regiment, 
San Antonio, Texas. 

On duty with escort, Troop A, 4th Cavalry, con- 
ducting 300 half-broken horses which were driven 
loose 230 miles from San Antonio to Fort Concho, 
Texas, where he joined his Troop, E, November 20, 1870. 

In command of troop from November 23 to March 
27, 1 871; engaged in numerous scouts after Comanche 
and Kiowa Indians to the headwaters of the Concho, 
Colorado, Trinity and Brazos rivers. Scouting after 
a band of Indians which had jumped the stage on the 
El Paso line near Mount Margaret, Texas, and thence 
into the Colorado Valley, where the trail was lost, 
being obHterated by countless herds of buffalo, March 
4-10, 1871. 



Changing station to Fort Richardson, Texas, March 
27, to April 8, 1 87 1. 

Commanding escort to wagon train from Fort 
Richardson to Fort Griffin, Texas, and return, April 
10, 1 87 1, during which on a single horse and under 
urgent orders by courier from Gen. R. S. Mackenzie, 
Colonel 4th cavalry, he made a night ride of 80 meas- 
ured miles in 12 hours, 68 of which were made in 9 
hours. 

IV. — One of the Longest Distance Rides on Record. 

This is believed to be one of the greatest long dis- 
tance rides ever made by a cavalry officer on a single 
horse in that time, and was made on a dark, starlight 
night, with a corporal and three men, on a blind stage 
trail through a rolling country continually infested 
by numerous bands of predatory Indians. He crossed 
two streams, one the Brazos river, and left the escort 
16 miles in the rear; their horses either died or were 
rendered useless for further service, while his was 
ready for service the next day. 

Post Adjutant of Fort Richardson, April 20, 187 1. 

Selected for Important Duty. 

On special escort duty with a picked detachment 
for Gen. W. T. Sherman, Commanding General of the 
Army, from Rock Station, 16 miles from Fort Richard- 
son, a point two miles from which Satanta, the famous 
Kiowa war chief , with a war party of 150 Indians, 
committed an atrocious massacre that same afternoon, 
May 18, 1 87 1, killing, scalping, and brutally mutilating 
seven teamsters, burning one alive while chained to a 
wagon wheel. It was reported that Satanta's inten- 
tions were to intercept General Sherman on this trip, 

26 



capture him, and hold him for a ransom by the United 
States, but he denied it afterwards when a prisoner 
at Fort Richardson. 

Campaign against the Kiowas. 

Selected by Gen. R. S. Mackenzie as adjutant of a 
large Indian expedition, composed of ten troops of 
cavalry and two companies of infantry, from August 
2 to September 14, 1871, into the Indian Territory, 
the Gypsum Belt of Texas and up the North Fork of 
the Red river and its tributaries. This campaign was 
directed against Kicking Bird's and Lone Wolf 's bands 
of Kiowas which had fled from the Fort Sill Reserva- 
tion upon the arrest of Satanta, Setank and Big Tree 
at that post by order of General Sherman, June 9, 
1 87 1. This campaign was stopped by an order sent 
from Washington through Fort Sill, Indian Territory, 
and by courier to General Mackenzie at the Wichita 
Mountains, August 16, placing him under General 
Grierson's command and directing him not to attack 
Kicking Bird's camp, then on the^Sweetwater, a tribu- 
tary of the North Fork of the Red river, and on no 
account to bring on an Indian war. Lost many 
horses and had many sick men through drinking 
poisonous alkali water. One Indian, said to be a 
Lipan, was captured, but released near Kicking Bird's 
camp. A large trail was followed for one day and 
Kicking Bird was persuaded by General Grierson, 
commanding loth cavalry, to go into the reservation. 

Campaign against the Comanchcs. 

On second expedition from old Camp Cooper on 
Tecumseh Creek, near Fort Griffin, Texas, to the Pan 
Handle of Texas and Staked Plains from October 2 
to November 18, 187 1. 

27 



V^. Selected by General Mackenzie to go on a rec- 
onnaissance with eight men and five Ton-ka-way In- 
dian scouts to the Clear Fork of the Brazos river, to 
determine a practicable road for the wagon trains, 
and to select a suitable camp for the entire command 
September 29 to October i, 187 1. 

VI . Guided the column to the camp which he had 
selected October 3, 187 1. 

VII. Detached from troop and selected to assist 
Lieut. H. W. Lawton, Regimental Quartermaster, in 
making roads, building bridges, and preparing cross- 
ings at the numerous small creeks and streams, to 
facilitate the more rapid movement of the wagon 
supply train, October 4-5, 1871. 

Vni. — Saves the Entire Command from Stampede. 

While officer of the day, October 6, 187 1, at Cot- 
tonwood Springs, Texas, and lying with the picket 
reserve, he saved the entire command from a wholesale 
stampede of over 600 horses and mules which had been 
staked out for grazing across the water trail of numerous 
buffalo herds near by. He promptly turned out the 
entire guard about midnight, and having received 
orders that no shots should be fired, he hurried them 
to a position where he succeeded by waving blankets, 
shouting, etc., in turning the heads of the buffalo 
herds, which were moving by countless thousands, 
just in time to prevent their pushing their way over 
the grazing ground and among the horse herds. 

IX. Specially selected and ordered, October 8, 187 1, 
by General Mackenzie, with a small detachment of 
picked men, to the head of Duck Creek to scout for 
the trail of any hostile Indians and to find, if pos- 
sible, the trail of the Ton-ka-way Indian scouts, who 
had been sent out the previous evening. Engaged on 
the morning of October 10, 187 1, with Mow-wi's and 

2S 



Para-o-coom's bands of Qua-ha-da Comanche Indians 
at Canon Blanco, near the Freshwater Fork of the 
Brazos river, Texas, numbering several hundred. 

X.— Brevet First Lieutenant U. S. Army for: 
** Specially Gallant Conduct in Action against 
Indians on the Brazos River, Texas, October 
10, J 87 1/' 

XL— Saves the Life of an Officer of the 4th Cavalry, 
and all His Men, Seven in Number, as well as 
Four of His Own Men from Massacre, and Re- 
ceives a Serious Injury. 

He is credited by every officer of the regiment with 
saving the life of Captain E. M. Heyl (afterwards 
Colonel and Assistant Inspector General, U. S. Army) 
4th cavalry, now dead, and his seven (7) men, as well 
as his own four (4) men from massacre on that day. 

Lieutenant (now Major, U. S. Army) W. A. Thomp- 
son, 4th Cavalry, states : 

"Had it not been for your coolness, good judgment 
and great gallantry that morning, the chances are^ ten 
to one the whole command would have been killed 
before we could have reached them * * * 
prompt and decisive action and bravery held the men 
to their work and saved the day. * * * The 
Oua-ha-da Comanche Indians are noted for their 
great bravery and close fighting. " 

Lieutenant (now Captain U. S. Army) P. M. Boehm, 
4th Cavalry, states : 

"I was present at the time the Indians made the 
charge and I can vouch for the brave conduct and skill 

29 



of Lieutenant Carter. I cannot express in too great 
a sense the ability shown by this officer in covering 
the retreat and holding his men in such a position as 
held the Indians back. If there is any honor that 
should be bestowed upon any officer who was engaged 
at the time mentioned it is Lieutenant Carter." 

Captain John A. Wilcox, 4th Cavalry (now Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel U. S. Army), states: 

" Your personal bravery in the fight near the Brazos 
river, when the Indians partially cut off your little 
detachment and killed your sergeant, is well known 
to all the old officers of the 4th Cavalry." 

Lieutenant C. A. Vernou, 4th Cavalry (now Major 
U. S. Army), states: 

" As soon as some of the horses which had stampeded 
the night before were caught and sent in from the front, 
we heard from the men about the man of Troop G 
being killed, and they told us of Lieutenant Carter's 
gallant behavior, and said if it had not been for his 
action that things would have gone pretty badly. " 

Had Captain Carter hastily withdrawn at the time 
Captain Heyl did, in the face of a sudden rush made 
by nearly 400 Indians, nothing then could have pre- 
vented the speedy massacre of every man fourteen (14) 
in both detachments, as the command was then distant 
some two or three miles saddling up. 

By his prompt and decisive action in skirmishing 
with the advance of the Indians, thus holding them 
in check, enough time was gained to enable the entire 
command to come to their relief. 

He directed the men not to close in or to bunch, and 
on no account to attempt to make a run for cover or 
shelter — a thousand yards or more to the rear — on 

30 



their worn-out horses, but to keep well deployed, to 
fall back slowly, and to keep up the fire. 

His men were armed with eight-shooting Spencer 
carbines. After he saw that the fire of the leading 
Indians, some 30 or 40, armed with single muzzle- 
loading rifles, had been drawn, he ordered his men to 
use their magazines, deliver a more rapid fire, and to 
bunch their shots. Thus, forty shots were given in as 
many seconds, directly in the face of the advancmg 
warriors. Five (5) Indians were known to have been 
killed, and a number of riderless ponies ran into the 
Indian lines. He had but five men, one of whom was 
killed, and two slightly wounded— flesh wounds— and 
not reported. 

Xn.— Awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor 

for ''most distingmshed gallantry in action against 
Indians on Brazos river, Texas, October 10, 1871; 
in holding the left of the line with a few men dur- 
ing the charge of a large body of Indians, after the 
right of the line had retreated, and by dehvenng a 
rapid fire, succeeded in checking the Indians until 
other troops came to the rescue, while scrvmg as 
second Heutenant, 4th Cavalry. ' ' 

Received severe injury to leg while pursumg In- 
dians on the morning of October 10, 187 1. 

Pursuit of Indians up Canon Blanco, October 10-12, 
1 87 1 Ordered to assist officer in command of rear- 
guard in pushing forward all men dismounted by stam- 
pede on the night of October 9, who were begmnmg 
to fall out and straggle. , ^ u 

Terrific weather of rain ad sleet on night of October 
12 and midnight skirmish with large body of Indians 
which had been followed during the day, during which 
some abandoned ponies and property had been picked 

up. 

31 



Rode from October 10-15 with leg in splints on ac- 
count of injury received on the morning of October 
10; splints removed on October 15. 

Skirmish in Canon Blanco October 16, in which 
two Indians were killed, one man severely wounded, 
supposed to be mortal, and General Mackenzie wounded 
in leg by an arrow. 

XX. — Saves the Entire Command again from 
Stampede. 

While officer of the day and lying with the ad- 
vance picket outposts on the night of October 18, 
along the back trail, he again, by his vigilance, saved 
a stampede of all the horses of the command, which 
were somewhat huddled in a contracted space, by 
promptly advancing the pickets, firing upon some 
Indians who were creeping in for this purpose, and 
driving them off until supported from the main com- 
mand. 

XIV. Selected October 20 by General Mackenzie 
to go on a reconnoissance for the purpose of finding 
the trail of the stampeded horses that were driven 
out of camp by the Indians on the morning of Oc- 
tober 10, 187 1. 

XV. Selected by General Mackenzie to command 
all of the dismounted men, about 70, and to take 
charge of all the worn-out, sick and disabled animals, 
and ordered to the vicinity of old camp at Cottonwood 
Springs, near the supply camp for this purpose, where 
he remained from October 24 until November 10, 
besieged in camp by an immense pack of wolves at- 
tracted by buffalo meat. Snow, rain and sleet; lost 
many horses — abandoned and shot and frozen at the 
picket line. 

XVI. Selected again, November 29 to December 9, 
187 1, by General Mackenzie, under special written 
and verbal instructions, which were practically carte 

32 



blanche orders, without regard to time, place or dis- 
tance marched, to pursue deserters who were leaving 
the regiment in swarms — ten having deserted No- 
vember 29 from one troop — owing to the exceptionally 
hard service which had been demanded of them since 
April. He and his non-Qommissioned officers were 
ordered to wear citizens' clothes, secure the assistance 
of the civil authorities, and, if necessary, to go to 
Galveston, Texas, or by boat and rail to New Orleans 
and New York. 

XVII. — Received Special Letter of Thanks from 
Major-Gen eral J. J. Reynolds, Commanding 
Department of Texas : 

" Headquarters Department of Texas, 
"Office of Assistant Adjutant-General, 

"San Antonio, Texas, January 4, 1872. 
"Second Lieutenant Robert G. Carter, 4th Cavalry, 
("Through Headquarters Fort Richardson, 
Texas.) 
"Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt 
of your report of the 9th ultimo, relative to your pur- 
suit of deserters, under Special Orders, No. 280, Fort 
Richardson, Texas, dated November 29, 187 1, which 
resulted in the capture of ten deserters. 

"The Department Commander desires me to express 
to you his gratification at your success, and his special 
commendation for the zeal and ability displayed by 
you. 

"The good conduct and faithful services of the en- 
listed men composing the detachment and Mr. Rhoads, 
citizen guide, is deemed a proper subject for a letter 
of commendation to the Post Commander. 

" I am, sir, very respectfullv, your obedient servant, 
" (Signed) H. CLAY WOOD, 

A ssistant A djutant-General . ' ' 
33 



XVIIL — Received the Personal ** Thanks and Con- 
gratulations '* 

of General Mackenzie, besides being warmly compli- 
mented not only by himself but by Gen. James H. 
Hardie, then Inspector General, U. S. Army, who hap- 
pened to be at Fort Richardson, Texas, at the time, for 
the capture of ten deserters during a terrible "sleeting 
norther" of several days' duration and of unprece- 
dented severity, during which the mercury was io° 
below zero and the country was covered with snow 

and ice. TVU w**-* a. vti.(u a| 5.00 w.\Xe.«. 

XIX. Ascertaining upon his return that two con- 
stables of Weathersford, Texas, under pretence of being 
detectives with authority to make arrests, had held up 
these deserters at the muzzle of their shot-guns, and 
then released them upon payment of a large sum of 
money, although worn out and almost exhausted 
from cold and the strain of night and day riding with- 
out sleep, he sought out these robbers, and placing 
them under arrest conducted them into the town, 
where he placed them under bonds, together with 
another citizen who had conveyed these deserters in 
a close wagon down the country, for their appearance 
in court when indicted. 

Upon learning also that the deserters had sold their 
carbines, he left the trail, and finding that the ranch- 
man who had received them, after concealing the arms, 
had fled, he compelled him by threats to deliver these 
carbines to the commanding officer at Fort Richardson 
the following morning. 

This is believed to be the most complete capture of 
deserters, and punishment of all concerned, ivith recovery 
of all property belonging to the United States, and under 
stress of extraordinary hardship and privation, on record 
in the Department of Texas. 

34 



XX. Again selected by General Mackenzie, Decem- 
ber 13, to capture another deserter known to be some- 
where in the Keechi valley, which he succeeded in 
doing after a very hard ride that same day, and was 
again personally thanked and warmly commended for 
this special service by the commanding officer. 

Post Adjutant of Fort Richardson, Texas, January 
2-13, 1872. 

On a scout to the Government saw-mill, January 
13-15, 1872. 

XXI. On a scotit from January 16 to January 23, 
1872, being again selected by General Mackenzie, 
and acting under special orders (No. 11) of the Post 
and verbal instructions of commanding officer, to 
Decatur, Texas, the Government saw-mills, and along 
the valley of Big Sandy Creek to near Ball's Ranch 
to head off a large war party of Indians believed to be 
near that point. He was given picked men from 
several troops for that piu'pose. He struck their trail, 
but lost it in a blinding snowstorm, after driving them 
out of the country by his close pursuit, and saving 
the citizens of Decatur and vicinity from what might 
have been a most serious raid upon the settlements. 
One Indian was killed by the sheriff and party acting 
with his command, who brought in his scalp. 

XXII. In command of escort to General Mackenzie 
and other officers to Fort Sill, Indian Territory, by 
his. General Mackenzie's, special request, March 2 to 
April 2, 1872. This was over a country continually 
infested by bands of Kiowa and Comanche Indians 
from the Fort Sill Reservation, and during a raid to 
the immediate vicinity of Fort Richardson, Texas, 
by a war party of Indians, the settlers having killed 
one on the morning of April 2 and left him on the trail. 

XXIII. With troop guarding Whaley's Ranch, near 
Red river, from May 7 to 19, 1872. This ranch was 
continually menaced by numerous bands of Indians 



from the Fort Sill Reservation. While there cap- 
tured two notorious cattle and horse thieves, who were 
sent into Fort Sill under guard. Upon returning to 
Fort Richardson the rearguard was attacked by 
Indians with a view of capturing some of the mules. 
They were driven off after a brief skirmish, in which 
no losses occurred, when the Indians scattered and 
upon being pursued their trail was lost on rocky 
ground. 

XXIV. Witness before the U. S. District Court at 
Tyler, Texas, by order of the Department Commander, 
in the case of the three citizens apprehended at the 
time of the capture of the deserters and indicted. 
Marched the entire distance, over 300 miles, from Fort 
Richardson to Tyler and return from May 22 to June 
16, 1872; on the return, ascertaining that Indians 
were in the country, rode to Fort Richardson with the 
detachment deployed ready for instant action. 

XXV. Selected by special order of General Macken- 
zie, June 22, 1872, to take charge of 125 recruits for 
drill and assignment to the 4th Cavalry. 

XXVI. Selected to command escort to seven mili- 
tary prisoners and one insane man, and conduct them 
to the State penitentiary. Baton Rouge, La., and re- 
turn, from July 10 to August 23, 1872; marched to 
Corsicana, Texas, and by rail and boat to New Orleans, 
thence by boat to Baton Rouge; same transportation 
on the return, marching from Dallas to Fort Rich- 
ardson, Texas. 

XXVII. With troop from September 4 to September 
26, 1872, as escort to the Kiowa War Chiefs, Satanta 
and Big Tree, prisoners from the State penitentiary, 
Huntsville, Texas; from Dallas, Texas, to Fort Sill, 
Indian Territory, for a conference with the Indian 
Commissioners. Their destination was subsequently 
changed by a dispatch sent by the commanding of- 
ficer at Fort Sill by the famous scout, Stillwell, who 

36 



intercepted the command on the night of September 
II at Denton Creek, after kilHng his horse by the 
effort. The letter stated that there were over 3,000 
hostile Indians in from their camps, and fearing a 
collision and the possible massacre of both commands 
should Satanta be brought there as a prisoner in 
irons and then removed, he urged that they be taken 
to Atocha, Indian Nation (terminus of the M. K. 
and T. R. R.)- As there was no wire nearer than 
Dallas, on the advice and good judgment of Captain 
Carter, approved by the scout, the order was dis- 
obeyed, and the route of march changed. This action 
was heartily approved later by the Department Com- 
mander, who warmly commended such a course 
where circumstances had rendered the orders given 
practically inoperative. The combined commands 
would have aggregated but about 300 men, and the 
Indians were then in an ugly mood. 

Acting Regimental Adjutant by order of General 
Mackenzie from September 26 to November i, 1872. 

Post Adjutant from November i to December 11, 
1872. 

XXVIII. Transferred by order of General Macken- 
zie, Special Order No. 288, Headquarters Post of Fort 
Richardson, December 11, 1872, from Troop E to 
Troop A, to command the latter, "for the good of 
the regiment, ' ' the captain and first lieutenant being 
absent on detached service, although the second lieu- 
tenant, commanding the troop was present for duty. 
This order was confirmed and the transfer made per- 
manent by the War Department by Special Order, 
No, 24, January 30, 1873. 

XXIX. On march changing station from Fort 
Richardson, Texas, to Fort Clark, Texas, from March 
4 to April I, 1873, a distance of 425 miles. On this 
long march he was detached from his troop and 
selected as quartermaster. There were five troops 

37 



of cavalry, and the route was over a rough country, 
with women and children, and with an insufficient 
amount of old, broken down transportation. 

XXX. — Received the Thanks of the State of Texas 
through its Legislature in Joint Assembly in the 
following Language: 

"Whereas reliable information has been received 
that General Ronald Mackenzie of the U. S. Army, 
with the troops under his command did on the 19th 
day of May, 1873, cross the Rio Grande into the Re- 
public of Mexico and inflict summary punishment 
upon a band of Kickapoo Indians, who, harbored and 
fostered by the Mexican authorities, have for years 
past been waging a predatory warfare upon the fron- 
tier of Texas, murdering our citizens, carrying their 
children into captivity, and plundering their property : 
therefore, 

''Resolved by the Senate of the State of Texas, the 
House concurring, That the grateful thanks of the people 
of our State, and particularly the citizens of our fron- 
tier, are due to General Mackenzie and the troops under 
his command for their prompt action and gallant con- 
duct in inflicting well merited punishment upon these 
scourges of our frontier. 

''Resolved, That his Excellency the Governor be, 
and he is hereby, requested to forward a copy of these 
resolutions to General Mackenzie and the officers and 
troops under his command. " 

Officially signed by the Governor of Texas, and 
certified to by all the State officials. Copy trans- 
mitted to General Mackenzie and the officers and men 
of the 4th U. S. Cavalry. This for an action with a 
large body of confederated Lipan, Kickapoo and 

3S 



Mescalero Apache Indians near Rey Molina, Mexico, 
May 19, 1873. 

This is beHeved to be the only instance in the history 
of this country where a sovereign State, through its 
legislature, ever tendered a joint resolution of thanks 
to a cavalry command for its services in exterminat- 
ing Indians from its frontier. From that time West- 
em Texas was free from Indian depredations which 
permitted the free and unrestricted flow of immi- 
gration from other States, and the consequent advance 
of civiHzation to its most remote borders. 

This march was one of concentration, and for the 
invasion of foreign territory, under certain implied 
authority from the Secretary of War and the General 
of the Army; the crossing of troops into an adjacent 
republic, even in the pursuit of Indians, not then hav- 
ing been covered by treaty. Had any sick, wounded 
or exhausted oflicer of the command fallen out or 
been left behind for any cause, his life would have 
been forfeited and he would have been hung as a felon. 

Most of the men had been without sleep three and 
four nights, and it required almost ceaseless vigilance 
on the part of the worn-out officers to prevent them 
from falHng asleep and dropping from their saddles 
from exhaustion. Every effort was made by the Mexi- 
can authorities and Indians to cut off or ambuscade 
the command upon its return march to and across the 
Rio Grande. 

XXXI. This was a ride of 159 miles in 32 marching 
hours, day and night marching, with five troops of 
cavalry, a part of the distance with a loaded pack 
train, and on the return with prisoners, women and 
young children, a herd of captured ponies, driven 
loose, and one desperately wounded man who died 
from exhaustion and the shock of amputation shortly 
after the river was crossed. 



39 



This was accomplished with the loss of but one pri- 
vate horse, and three men wounded, one of whom died. 

Three villages, with all their accumulated plunder, 
were destroyed; nineteen (19) dead warriors were 
found and counted, although many more were ac- 
knowledged to have been killed. Costilietos, the 
principal chief of the Lipans, and 40 women and chil- 
dren were captured, besides 65 ponies and other stock 
belonging to ranchmen living near Fort Clark, Texas. 

This is recorded as one of the greatest long distance 
rides ever made by a cavalry command in that period 
of time and under similar conditions. 

XXXIL — Mentioned in General Orders of Major- 
General C. C. Augur for " Gallant and Success- 
ful Attack ** in the Action at Remolina, Mexico, 
May J9, J873, 

and "The thanks and congratvdations for the very hand- 
some manner in which you (they) accomplished your 
(their) perilous and difficidt work." 

"General Orders No. 6, Headquarters Department 
of Texas, San Antonio, Texas, June 2, 1873." 

XXXIII. Mentioned in General R. S. Mackenzie's 
report : 

"All the officers acted very handsomely Sind deserve 
consideration.'' 

" Headquarters, 4th U. S. Cavalry, Fort Clark, 
Texas, May 23, 1873." 

Saves the life of another officer of the 4th Cavalry. 

XXXV. Captain Carter is credited by all old of- 
ficers of the regiment, but especially by two officers 
who were eye witnesses of the act, with saving the life 
of Captain Clarence Mauck, 4th Cavalry (afterwards 

40 



major, 9th U. S. Cavalry), now dead, in the action of 
Remolina, Mexico, under the following circumstances, 
as stated in a letter written by Captain and Brevet- 
Major William O'Connell, 4th Cavalry, now dead : 

"I heard a good deal of your conduct during our 
action (May 18, 1873) in Mexico: that you killed two 
or three Indians. 

"After the fight we congregated, and one Indian 
rode up and pointed his gun at Captain Mauck, and 
would have shot him only for yourself and Corporal 
Linden. You fired at the Indian, afterwards Linden, 
and, as he dropped from the saddle his gun went off. 
By your timely action you saved the life of Captain 
Mauck. 

" You always bore a high reputation for great courage 
and high mindedness.'" 

Col. John A. Wilcox, U. S. Army, retired, then cap- 
tain 4th Cavalry, states: 

' ' I distinctly recollect the captured Indian you speak 
of being brought into camp by the Seminole scout; 
his efforts to shoot Captain Mauck, and his being killed 
on the spot. Many discharged their pieces, and you 
among the rest. I was standing within ten feet of this 
Indian when he was shot. " 

This Indian, in the belief that he had been betrayed, 
upon finding himself a prisoner, and while still mounted 
and not disarmed, levelled his rifle and pulled trigger 
upon Captain Mauck at a distance of less than ten 
feet, the muzzle almost touching his breast. Captain 
Carter's shot, which was almost simultaneous with the 
Indian's, had the effect of throwing up the muzzle of 

41 



the latter's rifle at the moment of discharge, and he 
dropped dead from the saddle. 

XXXVI. Ordered b}?- General Mackenzie to take 
half of Troop A and round up the ponies, which he did, 
capturing nearly all of them that were brought in. 

XXXVII. Returning with the captured herd was 
fired into at short range by a party of Indians concealed 
by long grass and tall flags, under the bank of a small 
stream; killed three Indians and wounded one; cap- 
tured the balance, who proved to be several squaws 
and young girls, and brought them in. 

XXXVIII. Col. E. B. Beaumont, U. S. Army, re- 
tired, then captain, 4th Cavalry, states : 

' ' When I came up you were in the act of firing a 
pistol or carbine * * * ^^d you cautioned 
me not to ride so close. * * * I do not know, of 
course, when you ran into this party * * * you 
had a reputation in the 4th Cavalry second to none in 
the regiment for bravery and efficiency, and maintained 
your high standing in the action of Remolina. * * * 
Your discovery of this party of Indians resulted in 
the capture of several. " 

XXXIX. — Brevet Captain, U. S. Army, for Gallant 
Services in Action against Kickapoo, Lipan and 
Mescalero Indians at Remolina, Mexico, May 
J8, 1873. 

So much confidence did General Mackenzie have in 
the good judgment and discretion of Captain Carter 
that he sent for him at midnight, several weeks before 
he determined to punish these Indians, and, in the 
absence of his adjutant, confided to him, under a 
pledge of secrecy, all his plans. He stated that he 
was going to cross the Rio Grande without any other 

42 



than implied authority, and that he might be court- 
martialed, especially in event of failure, and he then 
dictated to Captain Carter all the correspondence 
necessary to the success of this great raid. 

Until the river was reached and the command was 
about to cross, no other officer in the 4th Cavalry, not 
even his adjutant or his trusted quartermaster, the 
late Major- General H. W. Lawton, knew of the ob- 
jective of this expedition. 

Following this raid. Captain Carter was on numerous 
scouts, in grazing camps, guarding surveying parties, 
on boards, courts, etc. 

XL. He was specially selected by General Mac- 
kenzie as quartermaster of a horse board, from May 
30 to July 4, 1873, for the purchase of 100 horses for 
the regiment. These horses were obtained at a point 
60 miles below San Antonio, near Helena, Texas, and 
were driven loose, barefooted, and entirely unbroken 
direct from the pastures, a distance of nearly 200 
miles, to Fort Clark, without the loss of a single 
horse. 

First Lieutenant, 4th Cavalry, February 25, 1875. 

In the action with Comanche Indians on the morn- 
ing of October 10, 1871, during an attempt to dislodge 
a party of sharpshooters posted on a precipitous and 
rocky bluff, and while going at full speed along a very 
winding, zigzag buffalo trail which led up to their 
position, his horse stumbled and fell in such a way as 
to crowd his leg against an overhanging jagged rock 
and badly injured it; he fainted in the saddle, but, by 
clasping his arms about his horse's neck he was car- 
ried to the crest of the bluff, where he was restored 
to consciousness by his men, and soon continued on 
in pursuit of the Indians, although in great pain. 

43 



As soon as the fighting ceased. Dr. Rufus Choate, 
then acting assistant surgeon, U. S. A., and with the 
command, examined the wovind; he found the skin 
broken, and the leg badly lacerated, besides much 
swollen and bruised from the ankle to the knee. He 
expressed the opinion that the leg might be broken, 
but as the column was just then moving out and up the 
canon, still in pursuit, he could only give it a hasty 
examination. After cutting the boot leg down and 
giving it a cold water dressing he put it in splints until 
he could determine later whether it was broken or 
not. Captain Carter rode the remainder of that day 
for a distance of fifteen miles along a rough trail up 
the canon, part of the time marching dismounted. 
The following morning General Mackenzie, having 
had the circumstances reported to him, gave Captain 
Carter the choice of returning to the supply camp, 
some sixty miles distant, on duty in conducting the 
dismounted men, whom it was decided to send back 
to that point, or of continuing with the command. 

He chose the latter, and for five or six successive 
days marched in pursuit of this band of Indians, across 
the staked plains in the direction of Fort Bascom, 
New Mexico, and return, with his leg still in splints 
and bandaged, while suffering intense pain 

From a lack of knowledge of the results which such 
an injury might produce, and his failure, owing to a 
pressure of duties during that exciting period of Indian 
outbreaks, to consult competent medical or surgical 
authority as to the probable outcome of the same, he 
performed the hardest kind of cavalry service in the 
field for a period of several years without surgical ad- 
vice, palliative treatment or surgical interference, and 
until this injury progressed to a stage where it became 
a serious, and what appeared to be a permanent dis- 
ability. 

44 



At the urgent request of General Mackenzie he was 
granted a special sick leave of absence, and advised 
to consult the most skillful surgeons in the country 
with a view to his ultimate cure, and afterwards, in an 
interview with Gen. W. T. Sherman, then commanding 
the army, giving him a complete statement of Captain 
Carter's case, he urged that in event of his securing 
surgical reHef he desired to retain him in the regiment, 
not only because he was too valuable an officer to lose- 
on account of his services to him and to his command, 
but because of his (General Mackenzie's) personal lik- 
ing and regard for him. 

Although he further urged upon General Sherman 
that he be given a transfer to some other corps, as he 
was in no way disabled for effective service in the 
staff departments, being temporarily incapacitated 
only for duty in the cavalry and infantry in the field 
under conditions of Indian war. General Sherman 
stated that as there was no law or precedent he then 
knew of that would permit such a transfer, unless 
Captain Carter could return to his regiment for full 
field duty, while he regretted it, he would be com- 
pelled to go on the retired Hst. He had already ex- 
ceeded his limit of strength, as shown by the official 
certificates of the medical officers, and any further such 
hard service as he had already undergone would im- 
peril his life. 

Antiseptic surgery was then unknown. The best 
surgical authority in the country had advised against 
the danger by operation of any of the crude methods 
then in common use, and the disabihty. having pro- 
gressed to a point where it became a continual menace 
to his life, through a breaking down and enlargement 
of the internal saphenous vein, he was compelled 
to go before a retiring board. 

'I'his board, after pronouncing him "temporarily 



45 



incapacitated," and recommending these uncertain 
operations, changed its finding to "permanent dis- 
quahfication" upon receiving a certificate from the 
Massachusetts general hospital stating that no opera- 
tion then known would effect a radical cure and would 
imperil his life. Upon this certificate he was retired, 
June 28, 1876. For a period of more than 25 years 
he was never free from pain or danger to his life, yet 
he never murmured or complained, and he still con- 
tinued to actively engage in all the mental pursuits 
that were open to him. 

XLI. General Mackenzie, a major-general command- 
ing a cavalry corps in the field during the Civil War, 
who distinguished himself on many battle-fields, was 
wounded three times, and of whom General Grant said 
in his Memoirs, "He is one of the most promising 
young officers in the Army, ' ' writes to Captain Carter 
just before his retirement as follows : 

" My Dear Carter: I spoke of your case * * * 
to General Sherman yesterday and will bring the matter 
up again before I leave. Yoti do not know how sorry, 
Carter, I am to lose you from the regiment. * * * Be- 
lieve me to be, very truly, your friend. " 

XLII. Major-General H. W. Lawton states: 

"Lieutenant Carter was one of General Mackenzie's 
most trusted and efficient officers. I have often heard 
him speak of Lieutenant Carter to that effect. He is 
one of the most thorough, honorable and upright men 
I have ever known." He was an active, courageous 
soldier, an excellent disciplinarian, and a favorite of 
General Mackenzie. " 



46 



Summary. 

As has been shown, Captain Carter was selected 
many times by General Mackenzie for important 
duties and the most arduous services, when he was 
not for regular detail in the line of such duties, and 
while his brother officers were performing the ordinary 
routine garrison and field duties of a cavalry command. 
At such times he was acting under his special verbal 
instructions for this work in the field. 

This, as has also been shown, was on account of 
the confidence General Mackenzie had in Captain 
Carter's ability and special fitness for such duties, 
in the performance of which he was uniformly suc- 
cessful. 

The only reward he ever received for this kind of 
extra hard work, which resulted in breaking him 
down, was what has been noted in this record : The 
"Medal of Honor," two brevets, one for ''specially 
gallant conduct,'' "The Grateful Thanks of the State 
of Texas, " a complimentary letter of thanks from the 
Department Commander for the capture of deserters, 
under circumstances of great peril and extraordinary 
hardship, the statements contained in several of 
General Mackenzie's letters, "I am sincerely sorry to 
lose you from the regiment," etc., and by his warm com- 
mendations for such special service; and finally the 
complimentary testimonials and voluntary commenda- 
tions from Gen. H. W. Lawton and his brother officers 
to show his high standing in the 4th Cavalry and 
substantiating all that is claimed in this record. 

XLIII. Captain Carter had, at the time he was retired, 
the best service record of any officer of the 4th Cavalry, 
and one of the best of any officer of the entire army. 
Of the 565 officers of the Regular Army, now living 
(1904), who were bre vetted during the Civil War and 
since, only twelve are shown to have received two 

47 



brevets for gallantry in separate actions with Indians, 
and he is among that number; and he is the only 
officer of that number, or in the entire list of 565 
Civil War and Indian brevets, who was brevetted for 
"specially gallant conduct " in action against Indians, 
This is because it is clearly shown by his record that 
he not only saved the lives of his own men but the 
lives of the officer and men who fled and left him to 
be massacred. 

Of the twelve referred to as brevetted twice for 
actions against Indians, five only received the Con- 
gressional Medal of Honor, and he was one of that 
five. 

The "Medal of Honor" and "The Grateful Thanks 
of a Sovereign State," besides being officially credited 
with the saving of three valuable lives, two of whom 
were captains of his own regiment and one a young 
lady, now the wife of a rear-admiral of the U. S. Navy, 
besides the lives of eleven men, five of whom were 
the best men in the 4th Cavalry — all these acts ought 
alone to confer upon an officer with his record, some- 
thing more than the rank of a first lieutenant and 
brevet captain, U. S. Army, on the retired list at 58 
years of age, especially if he was retired for a mis- 
fortune entirel}'- beyond his control, through no fault of 
his own, and by an error of judgment of the retiring 
board, and in addition has since been relieved of 
that disability by skillful surgical operations ivhich 
could not be performed at the time he was retired. 



48 



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